Race report by Dave Phillips.
As usual this was full with no on the day entries. Must have been c2,000+ there and loads of red and whites (mainly Watford Joggers) but it is organised by Watford Harriers. We did have 5 MF R&Ws there with Anne-Marie, Delroy Taylor, Jason and Phyllis Douglas and me (for the 30th time I reckon). Apologies if others were there.
I got there at 0830 so that I could park in my usual small car park and who was also there-Anne-Marie. Thanks for the lift A-M!!
The start is in Cassiobury Park where there was a huge tented area for changing, baggage and of course number collection but it was just plain manic.
Eventually we were off at 1030 and as there were so many of us there were 2 starts, one on each side of the park on different paths.
Very soon we were in the country on closed roads when the 1st of the 14 hills was upon us and not long after it was Dead Man’s Hill! I wonder why it’s called that? No prizes for guessing. The course goes through lovely Hertfordshire country side and through some private estates but it was the cold and the wind plus the hills that made it hard.
At around the 7 mile mark it was very lonely for us towards the end of the pack but we plodded on up very steep slopes until the 11 mile mark came into view. The last 2 miles were very tough then with 3 hills in the last mile when we turned into Cassiobury Park for the finish. But the last 800 mtrs were all uphill and what a slog that was.
So home and dry for the medal and T shirt.
Then a Watford Jogger marshal colleague who I’ve known for years down there said he had spoken to Anne-Marie about having a joint event at a Park Run at Milton Keynes (mid-way for both clubs). So at last the Red and Whites from both clubs will hopefully meet up and have a great time. Hope it comes off.
